Virginia Law

Article 4. Bond Issues by Counties.

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, no county has the power to contract any debt or to issue its bonds unless a majority of the voters of the county voting on the question at an election held in accordance with §§ 15.2-2610 and 15.2-2611 approve contracting the debt, borrowing the money and issuing the bonds.

B. Voter approval is not required for a county (i) to contract debt or to issue bonds described in Article VII, Section 10(a)(1) and (3) of the Constitution of Virginia, (ii) to issue refunding bonds, or (iii) to issue bonds, with the consent of the school board and the governing body of the county, for capital projects for school purposes which are sold to the Literary Fund, the Virginia Retirement System, or other state agency prescribed by law.

Code 1950, § 15-666.28; 1958, c. 640; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-185; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 224; 1991, c. 668, § 15.1-227.39; 1997, c. 587.

Any county may, upon approval by the affirmative vote of the voters of the county voting in an election on the question, elect to be treated as a city for the purpose of incurring debt and issuing bonds under this chapter. If a county so elects, it will thereafter be subject to all of the benefits and limitations of Article VII, Section 10 (a) of the Constitution of Virginia and all provisions of this chapter relating to bonded indebtedness applicable to municipalities, but in determining the debt limitation for such county under § 15.2-2634 there shall be included, unless otherwise excluded under Article VII, Section 10 (a) of the Constitution of Virginia, indebtedness of any town or district in that county empowered to levy taxes on real estate.

1971, Ex. Sess., c. 224, § 15.1-185.1; 1991, c. 668, § 15.1-227.40; 1997, c. 587.

Whenever the governing body of any county determines that it is advisable to contract a debt and issue general obligation bonds of the county, it shall adopt an ordinance or resolution setting forth in brief and general terms the purpose or purposes for which the bonds are to be issued and the maximum amount of the bonds to be issued.

Where voter approval is required or permitted by the Constitution of Virginia or this chapter, the ordinance or resolution shall request the circuit court to order an election to be held pursuant to §§ 15.2-2610 and 15.2-2611 on the question of contracting the debt and issuing the proposed bonds.

Before the adoption of an ordinance or resolution by the governing body of any county requesting the ordering of an election on the question of contracting a debt and issuing bonds for school purposes, or, if no referendum is required, adopting an ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds for school purposes, the school board of the county must first request, by resolution, the governing body of the county to take such action.

If voter approval is not required by the Constitution of Virginia or the provisions of this chapter, the governing body of the county has all the powers granted by this chapter to the governing bodies of municipalities with respect to incurring debt and issuing bonds.

Code 1950, § 15-666.29; 1958, c. 640; 1960, c. 563; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-186; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 224; 1980, c. 559; 1989, c. 177; 1991, c. 668, § 15.1-227.41; 1997, c. 587.

If the question of contracting a debt, borrowing money and issuing bonds for the purpose or purposes set forth in the ordinance or resolution is approved at the election called and held for such purpose, the governing body of the county, subsequent to the recording of the results of the election, may, by ordinance or resolution, at one time or from time to time, authorize the issuance of bonds. A copy of each ordinance or resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds, certified by the clerk of the governing body of the county, shall be filed with the clerk of the circuit court for the county.

Code 1950, § 15-666.32; 1958, c. 640; 1962, c. 623, § 15.1-189; 1980, c. 559; 1991, c. 668, § 15.1-227.42; 1997, c. 587.

The governing body of any county, acting for and on behalf of any school district in the county, or acting for and on behalf of two or more school districts jointly, may provide for the issuance of general obligation bonds of the school district or districts for school purposes. Where voter approval is required by the Constitution of Virginia or the provisions of this chapter, the bonds shall not be issued unless a majority of the voters of the district voting in the election held pursuant to §§ 15.2-2610 and 15.2-2611 on the question in the district, or in each of the districts separately, approve the contracting of the debt and the issuing of the bonds. The bonds of two or more school districts shall be issued as joint obligations of such school districts. Any school district, or any school districts jointly, shall constitute a locality. For the purpose of this section, each magisterial district in each county shall constitute a school district, but any such school district shall not include a town constituting a separate school district. In any county where an incorporated town constitutes both a school district and an entire magisterial district, the remaining magisterial districts shall, upon the adoption of resolutions by the governing body and the school board, constitute a single school district which may thereafter issue general obligation bonds for school purposes after approval by a majority of all the voters of the district voting in an election on the question. The issuance of the bonds shall be governed by the provisions of this chapter.

Code 1950, § 15-666.32:1; 1958, c. 640; 1962, cc. 76, 623, § 15.1-190; 1964, c. 133; 1968, c. 611; 1971, Ex. Sess., c. 224; 1991, c. 668, § 15.1-227.43; 1997, c. 587.